Potchefstroom Campus News
Special moment for dean as daughter graduates in programme she championed
Twelve years ago, Prof. Liezl van Dyk, executive dean of the Faculty of Engineering, came to the North-West University (NWU) on a mission: to play a central role in developing industrial engineering as an impactful discipline at the university. Her daughter, Karla, was 10 years old at the time. Now, on 31 March this year, Prof. van Dyk experienced the fruits of her labour first-hand when Karla graduated as an industrial engineer.
“It is a full-circle moment that highlights the impact of academic leadership and the inspiration it offers to future generations of women in engineering… Read more
Historical collection sheds light on life in German internment camp
Willie du Plessis
Taken prisoner, isolated from loved ones and incarcerated with thousands of others in lice-infested camps.
This was the reality for many German men living in South Africa and South West Africa during the Second World War, when the government of former Prime Minister Jan Smuts held them…
NWU to host Hockey World Cup in April at last
Bertie Jacobs
It is no joke. From 1 April, the North-West University (NWU) will host the 2022 Women's FIH Hockey Junior World Cup at the Astroturf fields in Potchefstroom.
This is the ninth time the event has been presented, and it would have taken place in December, but the Omicron variant of the Covid-…
Susan Cilliers: Documenting the demons
They were the twin murders that enraged a community and shocked a nation. On Saturday, 26 May 2018, 19-year-old Xander Bylsma murdered Sharnelle Hough (17) and Marna Engelbrecht (16) in their hostel in the small town of Stella.
The tight-knit farming community in North West was left…
NWU master’s student’s passion leads to book about wetlands
Kirsty Kyle, a master’s student at the North-West University (NWU), has recently published an educational children’s book and, after receiving sponsorship for the printing, donated the books to under-privileged schools.
The book, Discovering Wetlands with Piffy, Zenzi and Lucky, is…
Broad Budget speech is positive for business and consumers
“In challenging economic circumstances Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana displayed a safe pair of hands in navigating South Africa’s public finances towards debt stability and fiscal sustainability in the immediate future.”
In commenting on the 2022 Budget, which was presented on 23 February, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the…
NWU stargazer helps capture spectacular images of a magical cosmic “firework”
Faster than the blink of an eye, bigger than our entire galaxy and pulsating with unimaginable intensity, it is one of the most energetic cosmic events visible from earth observed and captured on record ― a shock wave that extends for 6,5 million light years.
Observing and capturing this magical “firework” in detailed images took…
Waiting times in healthcare are under the microscope
Waiting for medical treatment can be a life-or-death matter.
“Waiting times in healthcare are a significant problem that occurs across the world and often has catastrophic effects – as we have seen during the Covid-19 pandemic,” says Maria van Zyl, a lecturer in the School of Industrial Engineering at the North-West University (NWU).…
Newly B-rated researcher pursues new problems on ancient culture
Prof Jaco Gericke does not take an orthodox approach to research in his field, ancient culture, and in a sense that has sometimes counted against him. However, the tide has turned, and the fact that his work is not in the mainstream of scholarship may have proved to be an advantage. It led to the National Research Foundation (NRF) awarding a…
New species named in honour of NWU academic
According to Sir David Attenborough, who has at least 17 species named in his honour, having a species named after you is the “biggest of compliments that you could ask from any scientific community.”
Internationally acclaimed North-West University (NWU) researcher, Prof Nico Smit was recently complimented in such a way.
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#theArtofResearch – making health science more accessible
It is no secret that the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) at the North-West University (NWU) is at the forefront of in-depth research. Over the past year they have demonstrated yet again that their mission is to conduct research that could solve many health-related problems that affect young and old.
Recently, HART…